3. Threats & Temptations

It did.

His stupid smirk slowly died down and transformed into a frown "Mom told you?"

"Yeah" I faked a smile "I love getting the news of my death from strangers"

"Did that upset you?" he asked "Me telling my family that my mate's dead?"

"Yes" I sighed in relief when he took a step back "You told people I'm dead" I accused

"I told them my mate's dead" he replied "Do you want to be my my mate? Is this what it is about?" he narrowed his eyes at me "I told you not to catch feelings for me. Didn't I?"

I wanted to snort in the most unladylike fashion but settled for a scoff instead "Can you for once get off your high horse and actually take a look at me? Why would I want you?"

He held my gaze as if checking whether I was lying. I don't lie. Well not usually.

"Oh" he mumbled "Why are you upset then?"

"You told them I died"

"Big deal?"

"My mom once told me about her neighbor who lied at his work place and said that his aunt passed away to explain his leave of absence. The next day, his aunt actually passed away" I explained

He nodded "What next?"

I frowned "What do you mean what next? That's that. When someone lies about your death, the spirits may actually take you away. I know it's just a superstition but I don't want to volunteer myself to see if the theory works. I love my life, thank you very much. And I am not going to die a virgin"

He let out a deep groan. He then proceeded to open and close his mouth numerous times. I waited patiently for him to finish. When he was done, he let out another groan.

"Pull out your papers" he waved his hand at my work-case.

"You want to look at the papers?" that was a quick shift of mood.

"Yeah" he nodded absentmindedly rubbing his head.

"Okay let me sit down" I started walking towards the white couch at the other end of the room. I didn't think it will be this easy to convince him.

"Don't" He almost yelled "Don't sit" I turned to him with a frown "Don't sit. Don't touch anything here and don't walk around. If possible, don't breathe either. I don't want your scent on my belongings" he explained, softer this time "It's hard enough to control my animal as it is. I don't want to.....you get my point?"

Fair enough. I can only imagine how hard it is for him to resist me.

"Okay" I shrugged "Where do I do this?" I pointed at the work in my hand.

He thought hard for a moment "Wait there" he pointed at the door.

I nodded and moved back to my previous position. I watched as he pulled a leather chair from his desk and brought it over to me. I moved a little so he could place it by the door.

I sat on it. He pulled another one for himself. Picking the little glass table by the door where a vase was placed, he made it a makeshift desk. I put my papers on it.

"I'll throw them away once we are done" he said

I nodded "Shall we begin?"

"I have a few things to clear up before that" He leaned against his chair and fixed me with one of his hawk-like stares.

"Go ahead"

"First" he began "I don't need anyone to help me find a mate. I can do that perfectly on my own"

I snorted for real this time "Twelve years" I simply reminded him.

"That's very little time" he said defensively "I have a lot of time to settle down"

"You are thirty" I pointed out.

"That's nothing" he dismissed "I have time"

"I don't" I gritted out "Spirits! You are such a selfish man. I pity your mate. She has to live with you for the rest of your miserable life"

"As of now, if you don't recall, you are my mate" he pointed out.

"That's right. Don't you see me pitying myself? How is it fair that you get to sleep around and be in as many relationships as you want while I sit in the corner and watch my crush mate with another mare?"

"That's because you don't feel my pain or my pleasure" He replied calmly.

"Shouldn't that be a punishment for you the fact that you can feel mine? Why am I suffering then?"

"Hard luck" He shrugged "Second thing. I know how bad your taste in men is so I wouldn't trust you when it comes to women either"

"What's my job here then?" I questioned.

"You come to me at every stage of accepting or rejecting a candidate. Not a single decision should be taken without my knowledge. I don't want my future mate to slip from between my fingers just because you have bad taste in general"

I gritted my jaws together and gulped my anger down "So you are going to do this with me? Finding a mate for you?"

He shrugged "I don't have much faith in you. I'm only doing this to entertain my mom. I can find..."

"Yeah I get it. You can find her yourself" I dismissed him "Now can we begin?"

He nodded.

"okay" I said "before we begin, you need to say 'my mate is not dead' out loud"

"What?" he frowned.

"Repeat after me" I explained "My. Mate. Is. Not. Dead"

"I'm doing no such thing" He glared at me "Crazy woman"

I put my pen down, folded my hands against my chest and looked at him "We will begin whenever you are ready"

Three minutes later, "Fine" he barked "My mate is not dead" he glared at me as I opened my mouth "Don't make me repeat it" he warned

I smiled "I hope the spirits heard you. I'm really doing you a favor. If I die, you will suffer, remember?" I pulled the papers out "Shall we begin?"

"First point" he wasted no time "She shouldn't be superstitious"

Oh, are we really stooping that low now?

I nodded and pulled out a blank paper to write his requirements. I quickly jolted 'not superstitious' down "Next" I encouraged him.

"Not tall"

"Next"

"No black hair"

"Next"

"No black eyes"

"Next"

"36- 24- 36"

"bastard"

"what?"

"I meant, next"

"Talks less"

"Okay" Now the Amelia-bashing party is getting too much to handle.

"Doesn't snort like a horse"

I sighed "next"

"Doesn't curse"

"Next"

"Doesn't sleep on the right side of the bed"

"Next"

No.

Oh! Wait

"How do you know I sleep on the right side of my bed?" I narrowed my eyes at him, putting the pen down I looked at him.

"What does that have to do with you?" He stared back "I want the right side. So find a woman who prefers the left"

"Right" I nodded hesitantly. What was I thinking? "What else?"

"That all I can look at right now" He gave me a one-over in distaste.

"You'll have more once I display more of my characteristics?" I offered with a raised brow.

He nodded "Just add a no before you"

"Sure" I looked back at the paper "Now I believe over the past twelve years you have met and rejected a handful of women at least?" I waited for his confirmation.

He nodded.

I pulled my work tab out and dug the slide I was looking for "Can you give me names?"

"What names?"

"The names of the women you rejected. So I can push their profile aside"

"You expect me to remember people I met a decade ago?" he asked incredulously.

"You dated them, of course" I nodded "I remember the names of all my crushes. Right from the first one to the current one" I almost blushed as I recalled Adam Stone. Grass. Green Grass.

He narrowed his eyes "Prove it. Give me the names"

"No"

"You don't remember" he tried to rile me up.

I scoffed "I remember. I just don't want the poor souls to overcrowd the hospitals"

He shrugged wordlessly. He didn't look too keen on talking so I took it upon myself to finish the meeting.

"I'll give you a week to think about that. Please make a list. It will expedite the process" I explained "Also if there's someone in that list you would like to put in the doubtful category. Do that. Don't out rightly reject them. People change over time. Will give us more options. The market for lions is narrow already"

"Are we done?" he asked looking slightly disturbed.

"For today" I nodded "The next appointment?"

"Settle that with Keith" he said dismissively.

I stood up hesitantly "Are you sure you are okay?" I don't want people thinking I poisoned him out of spite.

"Stop talking and leave already, woman" he gritted out "I'm fine. I just had an overdose of you and if you don't get out of my sight in the next ten seconds, I'll touch you" he threatened "Do you want me to touch you Amelia?"

I gasped widening my eyes. No. I don't want that at all.

He sighed tiredly "Just leave"

I needed no more encouragement. I pulled the door open with all my strength and sprinted out of his office before he could do well of his promise.

I took the lift to the ground floor and slumped against the glass box. That was scary. His threats aren't empty. I've faced consequences I would rather not recall. There is a reason that this is the longest time we have spent in a closed space in three years.

We don't talk to each other, Arthur Leoline and I. When we see each other at public events, we make sure we are at diagonally opposite ends of the room. When we have to absolutely discuss something, which is usually me telling him to hurry the f*ck up and find a replacement mate, we keep a one-feet distance between us. That's the rule. One-feet.

He is mostly a man of his words. I think that has more to do with him having no interest in me rather than him obeying my rules but it works for both of us. So, who cares why he does it. It's not like I need his attention to feel beautiful. I'm beautiful anyways.

If you look at me from across the room, I'll seem as graceful as the models you see on television. Of course when you come closer and start talking to me, your illusion will shatter. But then I can always shut up and get any stallion I want. I just need to keep my mouth shut and probably my brain too.

When I was younger, I was dumber. There is no denying that no matter how embarrassing it is. So incidents of Arthur losing control were much higher back then. But when you are in a complicated situation with another person for twelve years, you get used to their ways. You find a middle ground.

We found a balance. He tolerates me, I tolerate him. But never forget that I am the victim here. I am the one suffering.

He has the power to free himself and me of this bond simply by choosing another woman. But what does he prefer to do instead? He wastes his time yelling at me, threatening me and sending all my prospective lovers to hospital.

On the bright side, he always warns me beforehand. Always.

___________

"I want it in alphabetical order" I told Jasmine "Start with A and end with Z. Is there a Z?"

"Yes. Zendya" she nodded with a smile "I'll get it done". She's the only person in this office who's nice to me. I appreciate her for that.

"Amyyy" Sophie threw open the door to my cabin and walked in with a stupid grin pasted on her face.

"What did I tell you about knocking, Soph?"

"It's Friday" she declared.

"I don't see why you wouldn't knock on Fridays"

She rolled her eyes and landed her bottom unceremoniously on my desk "We are going out today"

"We are?" I didn't know we had a plan.

"Yes" She declared "Ricky and I are going on a double date"

"Well enjoy yourselves I guess. I don't see how I fit into your plan"

"With Adam" she replied.

"Adam has a date?" I spoke a little too loud.

"He does" she grinned.

"Sh*t" I sulked "I think I'll have to make a new list now"

"No you don't" she looked awfully proud "I got you a date with your man you stupid girl"

I took a moment to process the information "Why would you do that, Soph"

"Because you like him" she frowned.

"I can't date him right now" I said "I need more time"

"Come on" she held my hand "It's just a movie. You can pretend like you are out with friends. Don't take it as a date"

I'm tempted.

"Just a movie?" I muttered.

"Yeppp" she purred "Just a movie in the dark baby"

"Dark" I repeated.

She nodded grinning.

"Soph"

"Yes Amy?"

"We need to go shopping" I jumped up from my chair "Now"

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